Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Nevada’s latest mask mandate to continue for at least 2 weeks

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak

John Locher / AP

In this April 29, 2021, file photo, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak speaks during a news conference in Las Vegas.

A mask mandate in Nevada, which goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday in counties with substantial or high transmission of COVID-19, including Clark County, will be in place for at least two weeks, Nevada officials said Thursday.

Nevada is in lockstep with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which this week recommended that those vaccinated against COVID-19 also should mask up. If the CDC adjusts its recommendations, so will the state, Gov. Steve Sisolak's office reiterated. 

The CDC’s reversal comes after research showed that the more contagious delta variant of COVID-19 can break through the vaccine, allowing the inoculated to infect others, even while asymptomatic, The New York Times reported Thursday.

Health and science experts maintain that the vaccines are doing what they were designed to do on the overwhelming majority of those vaccinated: prevent serious illness, hospitalization and death. The message was echoed by officials, who continue to plead for Nevadans to get the jab. 

Nevada on Thursday reported 26 additional COVID-19 deaths as the surge continued.

Nearly 47% of Nevadans ages 12 and up have been fully vaccinated, while about 57%  of the same population faction has initiated vaccination, state numbers show. 

Nevada officials will evaluate the transmission rates every Tuesday. 

For a county to relax the mandate, it would have to reduce transmission rates to low or moderate in the CDC scope for two consecutive weeks, officials said. Five counties are currently in the low and moderate stages in community spread of the virus.

Masking will be required in all indoor public spaces to include offices, businesses, restaurants, gyms, movie theaters and other venues, officials said.